How To

Enviromental Conditions

The western basin of Lake Erie is projected to have a very heavy bloom of the cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) later this summer. According to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), this is due to high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen entering our watershed. The cyanobacteria can produce the extremely dangerous toxins such as microcystin, saxotins, anatoxins, etc. Municipal water suppliers can be overwhelmed with the toxins if the wind blows an algae bloom over the water intake. This happened in Toledo the first week of August 2014.